Wednesday, November 30, 2011

I love reading interviews like this! Martin Scorsese recently spoke with Deadline about HUGO and 3D in particular...

Here's the excerpt:How long had you wanted to work in 3D?SCORSESE: Since I saw my first 3D film back in 1953, House of Wax.

As you watched 3D develop through the years, it’s gone from something that jumps out at you to an immersive feel. How have you felt about the evolution?SCORSESE: I have always been fascinated by it. Even before I saw 3D films, I remember getting a packet of 10 postcards that were stereoscopic from the late 19th century and looking at them through a little device. Then there’s the wonderful View-Master which had beautiful stereo images. Not only did it immerse you in the picture, but was like a story. I was fascinated by depth and I placed such moments carefully in Hugo. There are a number of things that do pop out at you, but we tried to have our cake and eat it too. Ideally you don’t realize the effect occurred. By the time it’s over, you’re onto something else. It was about placing you inside this boy’s world; the memory of a child. If you think back at your childhood, you think about where you grew up and if you ever go back there, it’s different. It has a different feel to it from what a child sees and perceives. I thought that would be amazing in 3D plus the fact that he lives in the walls of a train station with the mechanisms of the clocks – which always fascinated me. I remember a little glass ball of a clock that my grandfather had. He gave it to me. I was always fascinated because on the back of it, you can actually see magnified; the workings of a clock and since I was a child I was fascinated by that.

The technology certainly allowed you to see the inner workings of the clocks that are prevalent in the film. SCORSESE: I go back to that old clock my grandfather had and I still have in the house now and I was fascinated by that. I’m not mechanically inclined but I’m fascinated by the mechanisms, and what they suggest. The stories that come out of them. The measurement of time itself. Movies being the illusion of motion, and then it is seen and it is an experience that disappears–into time. And in many cases, it has strong, profound, powerful reactions that can change your life. It certainly did mine.

There’s a wonderful moment where an audience watching a moving picture for the first time scatters as a train rushes through the camera. In your life and career, what film innovation compares to that?SCORSESE: Well, two things really. It was the use of 3D back in ’53. Obviously, there are two or three films better than all the others – House of Wax, Phantom of the Rue Morgue and Hitchcock’s use of it in Dial M for Murder.

What was the other?SCORSESE: I’m going back to theatrical experiences for this one. It was the first use of wide screen and the Cinemascope image on a wide screen at the New York Roxy theater which was really very thrilling. But the 3D I preferred, because in the first use of Cinemascope, it was rather static, but the 3D was not for some reason, particularly in House of Wax. I was always fascinated by these technical innovations and never thought I would get to make one. It was only 2 years ago that I was talking to some filmmakers in Cairo of all places, saying 3D is going to be amazing, but that it has to be in the script. I said, I’ll never get to make one but that’s the nature of where everything is going anyway. Ever since storytelling started, whether it was rock paintings or campfires, or the Shaman, it’s been about telling stories with motion, color, sound and depth, which leaves you what? Holograms.

And just two years after saying you wouldn’t make one, we’re talking about your first 3D film. What changed for you?SCORSESE: Well, the story of Hugo. The climate of what Jim Cameron did with Avatar and 3D seemed right and the subject matter was just perfect for it. And it was time to take a chance with it.

How did you feel after watching Avatar?SCORSESE: There was extraordinary visual storytelling in that picture. Cameron is a great innovator and leader in cinema. It made it (3D) very welcoming. If you suggest 3D, from that point on, it was taken seriously. But I just think 3D is open to any kind of storytelling. It shouldn’t be limited to fantasy or sci-fi. Look at (Werner) Herzog’s use of it (in Cave of Forgotten Dreams), Wim Wenders with Pina. It should be considered a serious narrative element and tool, especially when telling a story with depth as narrative.

Which of your movies might have most benefited from being shot in 3D?SCORSESE: That’s an interesting question. Let’s see…Aviator, maybe? Maybe Taxi Driver… because of the intimidation of the main character , his presence is everywhere, a frightening kind of presence.

What was the hardest part about getting use to shooting with this format? There must have been a learning curve, figuring out how to frame shots to take advantage of that dimension.SCORSESE: The high depth was very helpful and beautiful to work with. The rigs we had at the time were big, and that was problematic, though we were luckily shooting in a studio so we could keep it on a crane and move it around. Now, the rigs are smaller and more flexible. As I lined up each shot, we had to rethink how to tell a story with pictures. And so each shot was a separate surprise, a separate journey, even though I designed a lot of the 3D effects in the movie way before shooting started. I just didn’t want to waste the depth, even if it was a medium shot of a person speaking . This was something that [cinematographer Robert] Richardson, myself, my AD Chris Surgent, my second unit director Rob Legato. We all worked on it heavily, every day, adding to the frame, try things, making mistakes. Pull back, go forward, try something we weren’t supposed to do. This was the key.

Is it that much more challenging than shooting a 2D film?SCORSESE: Eliminating the idea of the heavier equipment which is now getting smaller and flexible, I don’t think there’s very much of a difference. It shouldn’t frighten the filmmaker, it shouldn’t be an obstacle or an impediment. Break through it. Think differently about it. Don’t let people tell you what can and cannot be done. I shot the film in the way I’m used to shooting. It’s designed with editing, it’s a montage at times, but imagine somebody doing one long take in two hours in 3D, where the element of space really becomes part of the very fabric of the narrative, as we tried to accomplish here in our editing? It’s so unlimited. So yes, there are certain technical issues to deal with as you go ahead and work on a picture, but those are choices you make and you work it through. I wouldn’t be intimidated by it. You should really try and be bold.

Recently, 3D has been knocked as an excuse for studios to charge higher ticket prices. Now we’re seeing more filmmakers like you, Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Ridley Scott shooting in it. Would you prefer to shoot all your movies in 3D going forward?SCORSESE: Quite honestly, I would. I don’t think there’s a subject matter that can’t absorb 3D; that can’t tolerate the addition of depth as a storytelling technique. We view everyday life with depth. I think certain subject matters aren’t meant for 3D but you have to go back to Technicolor; when it was used in 1935 with Becky Sharp. For about 10-15 years, Technicolor was relegated to musicals, comedies and westerns. It wasn’t intended for the serious genres, but now everything is in color. And so it’s just a different mindset. Granted once the technology advances and you can eliminates glasses that are hindrances to some moviegoers, so why not? It’s just a natural progression.

I honestly believe that when even filmmaking geniuses like Scorsese are challenged with something new, they experience something old and familiar to them - excitement. The excitement of filmmaking when they were younger. Of discovery. I think it brings the best out of ANYONE. Hearing Scorsese talk about making mistakes and trying again is not something you would expect out of a 2D production with him. But 3D? It must have been thrilling for him again.

Hmmm. Looks like the real deal! Ever since I successfully called (through great sources) the villain for Sony's reboot of Peter Parker's franchise (Raimi was still somewhat attached at that time), I have been dreaming about how they would creatively tackle the iconic villain The Lizard.

Out of all the evil-doers Spider-man has encountered over his illustrious career, I have to say The Lizard is the number two character that invokes in my mind, behind only the Green Goblin. Sorry all you Doc Ock fans, he's relegated to third for me. The Lizard (Dr. Curt Connors) had a very appealing bit of character development that I found interesting as a boy growing up.

Rhys Ifans is playing The Lizard / Dr. Connors in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. Dylan Baker played Connors in Raimi's franchise but did not get to the point where he changed into the beast. I'm curious as to whether Connors will be a physicist (as in Raimi's universe) or a biologist as he was depicted in the comics and TV series. I'm a traditionalist mostly - I want the biologist!

What I also thought was cool from the comics was that Connors/The Lizard was in the X-MEN universe too! Could it be that we will see a cameo appearance from the mutants? Probably not as Marvel does not control that license, but one can always hope.I am fairly certain that The Lizard will meet (contribute to) his demise because of his reptilian weakness to cold as he is cold blooded. Just a hunch :-)

Another selfish desire I have for the movie is that they capture the magic of the original score from the TV series (Ray Ellis) in the movie somehow. To this day that score haunts me and I often have it churning away in my mind even though I haven't heard it in years. I am not talking the opening and closing themes (which shouldn't be copied), but the score within the TV show itself. I loved Danny Elfman's work in Raimi's SPIDER-MAN for the record.Anyway, enjoy the artwork and hopefully this is authentic, because I like it. Our spidey-sense starts tingling July 3.

Monday, November 28, 2011

If you haven't seen Scorsese's HUGO yet, I must say - get out and see it because it is truly a magical movie. And, as 75 percent of current movie goers agree, see it in S3D.

HUGO has taken in $15 million so far and Paramount is set to aggressively expand to more locations on December 9. In fact HUGO is Scorsese's third highest opening, behind SHUTTER ISLAND and THE DEPARTED. Look for very long legs for this film.

For me, other than AVATAR, there has been nothing to date to come close to this masterpiece. We haven't seen TINTIN yet, but as far as live action 3D is concerned, HUGO is unrivaled.

Why should you see it? It's one of those rare movies (rarer these days especially) that resonates at all levels. You will laugh, cry, be horrified, scared and in the end be completely satisfied. Moreover, the next day you will be thinking about the splendor you just saw. What else is there to ask from a movie?

Martin Scorsese doesn't have to prove a thing even though this is his first film working with children. He IS one of a handful of our key cultural treasures and consistently delivers time and time again. HUGO is no exception and the fact that this is his first 3D movie and that he hits it out of the park is no surprise.

What is a surprise, is seeing timeless Scorsese signature directions in a family oriented adventure. It suddenly dawns on you how much you adore his way of shooting scenes and capturing emotion. How he tells a story - ANY story. I had never stopped to think about that until I was in this movie. Not a story that is old and tired but an exciting new adventure for all ages. Nor 3D that was not well thought out and lazy. I am talking a full on, visceral experience that cannot be aptly explained in this post. Simple scenes like a man on a stage (I won't give away who) whose head and body occults a massive light beam directed at him, the movie goer in it's eclipse. Our camera slowly dollies right as if we're orbiting the scene. I use those terms because it is almost as if an astronomical event was happening when I saw it born on the screen. HUGO is that good.

Then of course, there are the classic Scorsese camera positions like the straight down angle that he has made famous. Imagine that in 3D now. Seeing depth to the floor rather than a wall and having the eerie feeling of floating over a dramatic scene. Scorsese! I couldn't have imagined a better person to show the world a dramatic 3D movie. And HUGO is dramatic, don't kid yourself. The character development is superb. Of course HUGO is also an adventure and a comedy all rolled up into one.

The story is amazing and full of originality. I love that it is set in Paris, though the English accents threw me off a tad (I might have even given this movie a ten if that wasn't the case!). Yes I know English accents are commonly used to depict foreign languages being spoken in an exotic way that doesn't require subtitles, but still I think I would have preferred french accents. But more importantly Scorsese has chosen to introduce his brand of S3D through a homage to film history and childhood memories. So well done.

A MUST SEE. A cultural and visceral experience for the whole family. 9.5 out of 10 stars.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Check out some more JOHN CARTER photos in advance of the trailer coming out next Thursday!

That short alien creature is known as a Woola and the tall alien standing behind Taylor Kitsch is Tars Tarkas played by Willem Dafoe via motion capture.

Here's the storyline:From Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes “John Carter”–a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). “John Carter” is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

Friday, November 25, 2011

We are going to find out soon enough if Dwayne Johnson can fill the rather large boots of Brendan Fraser who starred in the first movie of this new franchise JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3D. You see Fraser has an absolutely huge and diehard following overseas probably due to his famous MUMMY roles. But Johnson is bigger here in North America so it is an interesting thing to watch.

Josh Hutcherson is returning though to try and elegantly segue this second installment. It seems they are still in the family action adventure business so that is going for them. I hope their visual effects will improve, but so far the clips are not showing me that.

I'm looking forward to seeing Michael Caine again - I saw him at ShoWest a few years ago. A class act.

Here's the movie's storyline:Young adventurer Sean receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist–a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter, they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shock waves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

**UPDATE - November 26**For even more behind the scenes shots check out this link - well worth the click!!

**UPDATE - November 25** I just received another photo(right) of another ronin out of the 47 RONIN and it is now the first photo of this post for simplicity sake.

Here is what the new source "furiousrabbit" had to say:Each of the 47 Ronin's had an exquisitely different, unique costume.

Yes, it makes sense that each ronin would have different equipment as these guys would have all had different lords at some point. They are coming together from an individualistic point of view and not with army cloned attire. Cool.

Hey guys - an exclusive and special treat for you as we have gotten some on set and behind the scenes images from Universal's 47 RONIN!

A very cool MarketSaw reader codenamed "HerefordBoathouse" (a homage to DeNiro's RONIN) sent me these shots taken at Shepperton Studios in London. I can confirm that the movie is in fact being shot in native 3D. Further, they are using Red Epics Arri Alexas (Confirmed through this photo).

The movie also had scenes shot in Budapest, Hungary.

Obviously image 1 is of a robed Keenu Reeves and... I believe I can make out a scare under his right eye.

The second and third images are wardrobe shots of an extra in rather splendid battle attire. Note that in the grey robed shot, he is wielding two swords. He seems to have the same pair of bracers on for both characters. LOVE the boots for the footman soldier's outfit.

From all angles, 47 RONIN looks like a pretty special movie: You have Carl Erik Rinsch directing (a Ridley Scott protégé - in fact he was going to direct PROMETHEUS before Scott was convinced to do it); you have a very special story to tell in this ancient Japanese legend and a script by Chris Morgan (WANTED) and Hossein Amini (DRIVE); you have cinematography by John Mathieson (GLADIATOR - I loved how this movie was shot!) and of course Keenu Reeves (NEO!!!)

Here's the official storyline:"Kai (Reeves), an outcast who joins Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada ), the leader of the 47 Ronin. Together they seek vengeance upon the treacherous overlord who killed their master and banished their kind. To restore honor to their homeland, the warriors embark upon a quest that challenges them with a series of trials that would destroy ordinary warriors. ... Inspired by styles as diverse as Miyazaki and Hokusai, Rinsch will bring to life the stunning landscapes and enormous battles that will display the timeless Ronin story to global audiences in a way that's never been seen before."

Reeves on 47 RONIN (April 2011): "I call it a story of revenge and impossible love. The samurai become outcast and decide to enact revenge on the person who is responsible for the death of their lord." It's kind of a western and Kai is "an outsider, a kind of half-breed with a mysterious past, who's in love with the princess and she's in love with me, but we can't be together."

"(I) just finished a sword fight a couple of weeks ago with a great actor named Hiroyuki Sanada. He's fantastic."

The other cast members joining Reeves are Hiroyuki Sanada, Kou Shibasaki, Tadanobu Asano and Rinko Kikuchi. These actors are at the top of their game and among the best in Japan.Look for 47 RONIN in theaters on November 21, 2012.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Yes, I am a trekkie so this news is pie in the sky stuff for me. I'm beside myself. LOVE IT.Deadline reports that the JJ Abrams sequel to his first crack at the franchise (which did ~$400m worldwide) will indeed be in stereoscopic 3D!

We are now looking at a release date of May 17, 2013 (that is, if the Earth is still here of course). Roland Emmerich's SINGULARITY has been pulled off of that date freeing it up for Paramount and JJ Abrams.

So is it going to be any good? Well from all clues thus far it will be. Abrams first go at it with STAR TREK was quite good - certainly in comparison with the TOS casted first 10 attempts. And with this sequel, Abrams is pulling in all the stops - he is writing it along with Damon Lindelhof, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

All the principal cast members are returning too! No word on whether it is native 3D or a conversion - my feelers are out! More when I get it...

Check out this cool photo from Disney's JOHN CARTER! There's some interesting information below - some spoilers too; be careful!

Here's the storyline:From Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes “John Carter”–a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). “John Carter” is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

From Entertainment Weekly (yeah they sure do get studio exclusives lately!): There’s the many-legged amphibi-dog named Woola that becomes Carter’s loyal companion. And then there are one of the most intriguing and fearsome creatures in the series: the great White Apes.

Slight Spoiler below this line!! Highlight the white area below to read. You have been warned!!

...(John Carter) needs an army to solve his big problem in the third act, and the only army he knows was his previous captors. When he goes back, the game has changed, and he gets incarcerated. This is what he has to get out of. He has to get out of jail and not get killed by these apes in order to get his bigger problem solved.

Andrew Stanton talks about those White Apes:"No, they’re sort of an oversized gorilla in the books, and they’re kind of ubiquitous. They’re littered everywhere through at least the first several novels. They were always cool, just from a visceral standpoint, [but] they don’t really have a narrative function in the first book. So what we did is we made the White Apes a formidable creature that you kind of hear about throughout the movie, but you never really witness. There’s a subtle sense of anticipation for what these things might be like. Then Michael Kutsche — who did a lot of the designs on [the Johnny Depp movie] Alice in Wonderland – came up with this design on his own, for just their scale. He made them nocturnal, almost like moles — they stopped using their eyes, and just had a heightened sense of smell. We just love that. We needed a scene where Carter was going have to get out of his execution sentence in order to move the story forward, and we thought what better than having to go up against this formidable creature?"

Mild spoiler below this line! Highlight the white area to read. You have been warned!!

It is a pretty cool premise - John Carter is a human on Mars so the gravity is less than Earth's. The Tharks know about his ability to leap great distances (his sole 'super power') and thus chain him to a rock (pictured).

Hello. Suffice to say we have been waiting anxiously for this moment - the first of many in the slow marketing review of Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS set in the classic ALIEN universe.

So take a look at these stunning photos. I want to hear what you guys think you are seeing in them! Clearly the first shot is of Charlize Theron and Idris Elba on the bridge of Prometheus. Look at that amazing shot of Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace in their suits!!

Here's the official storyline for PROMETHEUS:Visionary filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the genre he helped define, creating an original science fiction epic set in the most dangerous corners of the universe. The film takes a team of scientists and explorers on a thrilling journey that will test their physical and mental limits and strand them on a distant world, where they will discover the answers to our most profound questions and to life’s ultimate mystery.

And here's some of the star-studded cast principals:Noomi Rapace as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, a character Rapace has likened to the Alien franchise's Ellen Ripley. Charlize Theron as Meredith Vickers.Theron described the character as "a suit who slowly sheds that skin through the film". Further description: "a fortysomething, tough-but-sexy woman".Michael Fassbender as David, an android.Idris Elba as Captain JanekLogan Marshall-Green as Holloway, Elizabeth's love interest. Emun Elliot as Chance Benedict Wong as Ravel

For all of over ongoing extensive coverage of all things PROMETHEUS, click here.

Oh man is this thing ever going to rock. What do you think of the first look?

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Anytime is a good time to listen to the master storyteller of our time, James Cameron. And when he starts talking about "his baby", TITANIC, it's definitely amplified.

I'm enthralled to listen to him recount his days making the movie, why they decided to go with a 3D conversion and seeing that giant replica behind him of the ship.

I have to say that he looks and sounds quite tired (or sick) in this thing. He is definitely not himself and I have spoken with him many times. I think the man has been pulling wicked hours working on AVATAR 2 and 3 while trying to re-release TITANIC 3D as perfect as can be. I hope he can find the time to rest because there is only one Cameron in the world and no one can keep that pace up forever.

Monday, November 21, 2011

I love seeing how much they have improved the older versions of classic movies with the HD remasters (as long as they remain laissez-faire with the CG) and the same holds true for Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D.

The mouse house certainly didn't wait too long after the successful re-release of THE LION KING 3D did they? It helps to have BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D already in the hopper, fully converted though. Next on the re-release slate? FINDING NEMO in September of 2012.

Remember when the original won an Oscar nomination for Best Picture? We've come a long way since then, but classics like these are timeless. Bring on the S3D! Certain elements would have been easier to convert than others, like the ballroom dancing scene as that was created digitally in the first place.

Here's the movie's storyline:Belle is a bright and beautiful young woman who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast in his castle. Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff, a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others, and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D hits theaters January 13.And don't forget the 3D animated short TANGLED EVER AFTER will also play with the feature movie!

Martin Scorsese's HUGO seems to be a hit no matter who sees it! Currently standing at 100% fresh at RottenTomatoes, this natively shot 3D movie is firing on all cylinders it seems.

This is Martin Freakin' Scorsese here folks. Fully embracing 3D and almost childlike in his enthusiasm!! Love it.

Here's the synopsis:Hugo tells the tale of an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. When Hugo encounters a broken machine, an eccentric girl, and the cold, reserved man who runs the toy shop, he is caught up in a magical, mysterious adventure that could put all of his secrets in jeopardy.

Here are some raving reviews already for you:"Hugo emerges as a spectacular adventure for film lovers of all ages."Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"A passionate brief for film preservation wrapped in a fanciful tale of childhood intrigue and adventure, Hugo dazzlingly conjoins the earliest days of cinema with the very latest big screen technology."Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

"In attempting to make his first film for all ages, Martin Scorsese has fashioned one for the ages."Peter Debruge, Variety

"Magical and imaginative, this eye-popping masterpiece from director Martin Scorsese will transport audiences to a place they won't believe."Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine

"A stunning exercise in 3D and a delightful celebration of Scorsese's lifelong love of the movies, something he, like Hugo, developed on childhood."Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

HUGO is set for release on November 23 - so get ready! And perhaps the icing on the cake is that it is ideal for all audiences. Looking forward to a full blown, true adventure without the need for R rated gore (don't get me wrong, I MAINLY like that genre LOL). Scorsese in 3D? I'm first in line...

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Guys check out this trailer and featurette for THE DARKEST HOUR! There's a bunch more new shots to amaze over - got to hand it to Timur Bekmambetov (and my buddy and stereographer Kasimir Lehto), it looks good.

For you music buffs, apparently the first song is 'I Need Air' by Magnetic Man and the second song that drops in (at 00:14) is 'Stress' by Justice (Remixed by Nero).

Here's the storyline:The Darkest Hour follows five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The 3D action-thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects from the minds of visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov and director Chris Gorak.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

We are finally getting to see some production shots from the much anticipated Baz Luhrmann (MOULIN ROUGE, AUSTRALIA) production THE GREAT GATSBY. The movie is being shot in NSW, Australia.

The star power attached to the feature is significant: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. Enjoy the shots!

Here's the storyline:“The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits.

As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Oh that ridiculous squirrel!He's back for more. If you will remember, Fox released the first part of this early marketing carrot back in January and now we get to see how it all turns out in the end. Surely he gets his acorn back!

Here's what happens in the second episode:Scrat’s nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he’s been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences – a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home.

To get you started here's the first one again:

And finally, here's SCRAT'S CONTINENTAL CRACK-UP PART 2:

LOVE IT! I can't imagine a better character to have in your marketing arsenal than Scrat. Someone deserves a raise... :-)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Judging from thestills, teaser trailer and now this first full trailer, I must say that my expectations aren't being met. That being said, this is PIXAR so I still think I am probably wrong given their track record.

I see nothing of consequence here that hints at spectacular adventure or peril. The tall bear? Not yet anyway. Sure it looks like the lead character Merida (played by Kelly Macdonald) is being challenged with the bonds of limitation that is seemingly imposed on women at the time of the movie ("A lady enjoys elegant pursuits"), but that in itself doesn't resonate strongly with me as presented thus far.

Here's the storyline:Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).

Obviously the quality, color and stereo 3D is not in question here. I fully expect another jaw dropping visual experience from Pixar, but the story and characters? I don't know yet. We'll see. What do you think?

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Looks like Disney has discovered shorts once again (it's a good thing!) because they have announced that pre-rolling in front of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D will be a short sequel entitled TANGLED EVER AFTER.

What I really like about this short is that EVERYONE is back! Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi (got a great autographed movie poster by Zach from Disney) are voicing again and the directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard are back.

Here's the official release:The Walt Disney Studios proudly announced today that directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, the talented team behind Disney Animation Studio’s global blockbuster Tangled, will premiere a delightful new animated short film spotlighting the royal wedding of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and Flynn Rider – a.k.a Eugene – (Zachary Levi) in front of each screening of Beauty and the Beast in 3D, which opens on January 13, 2012. By popular demand, Greno and Howard are bringing back some of Disney’s most beloved characters when TANGLED EVER AFTER picks up where Tangled left off. The Kingdom is in a festive mood as everyone gathers for the royal wedding of Rapunzel and Flynn. However, when Pascal and Maximus, as flower chameleon and ring bearer, respectively, lose the gold bands, a frenzied search and recovery mission gets underway. As the desperate duo tries to find the rings before anyone discovers that they’re missing, they leave behind a trail of comical chaos that includes flying lanterns, a flock of doves, a wine barrel barricade and a very sticky finale. Will Maximus and Pascal save the day and make it to the church in time? And will they ever get Flynn’s nose right?

TANGLED EVER AFTER is the perfect accompaniment to Beauty and the Beast, which is returning to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ and introducing a whole new generation to the Disney classic with stunning new 3D imagery. Beauty and the Beast was nominated for six Academy Awards®, winning Oscars® for Best Song, by the renowned Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and Best Original Score (Menken).

You can check the short and the re-release out on January 13.

*AND*

Check out the final trailer (I say this because the movie comes out on Friday!) for HAPPY FEET 2!

I think this one is a sure fire home run as there has been a lack of quality G rated movies this year and families NEED them.

Mumble, The Master of Tap, has a problem because his son, Erik, is choreo-phobic. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away and meets The Mighty Sven, a penguin who can fly!

My family pulled out our TITANIC disc last night and I sat mesmerized once again at the quality of this production.

DiCaprio was really quite young when this was shot! Winslet appears timeless. My anticipation really is through the roof for the upcoming stereo 3D re-release on April 6.

So many scenes are going to be absolutely stunning. Who can forget the famous propeller man, or those poor folks falling through the deck accoutrement on a perpendicular Titanic?

I'm a history buff too so the movie resonates with me on many, many levels. Can't wait to see the trailer for this thing!And yes, the trailer will be here soon - tomorrow @ 10am Pacific. You can find it here.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Here are some new images for Pixar's BRAVE which I have been really looking forward to seeing. The trailer is going to drop tomorrow as well!

Here are some of the movie's details:Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts.

She’s your anti-princess… She isn’t your typical princess. She doesn’t wear nice clothes except in a couple of scenes when her strict mom, Queen Elinor, makes her do it for special functions. She’s an active and action-oriented person. She wants to get out in the outdoors of the Highlands, escaping from castle life and exploring the woods.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Wise Woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.

Empire (via /Film) reports that director Mark Andrews"has instituted 'Kilt Fridays' among the animators working on the project". Haha! Would be interesting to see some behind the scenes clips of the antics on that day of the week.

BRAVE moves into theaters on June 22, 2012. Sorry - those of you in the UK will have to wait until August 17 (kind of a flip of what happened with TINTIN this year!)

Saturday, November 12, 2011

If you haven't seen IMMORTALS yet, what's slowing you down? I saw it last night and man did it impress! We had a special screening with Robert Maillet who played "Minotaur" (the torturer) who gave a Q&A afterwards.

I am not giving any spoilers with this mini-review. However the gloves are off in the comments! :-)

Tarsem Singh has certainly spread his wings with this movie. Some critics (37% rotten) have blasted the story - well I am here to tell you that you can safely ignore them (along with most audiences, 75% fresh). Is it a perfect story? No. Is it passable? Certainly. I liked the storyline in fact. And the visuals? Beyond reproach. It's a fantastic journey and I simply love how Singh presented and used the gods and titans.Henry Cavill did a fairly good job with Theseus and I was impressed with how Singh wove in how his future was being decided (via Frieda Pinto playing Phaedra) by the actions he takes every day.

A couple of cheesy moments but they pass QUICKLY. This is an absolute must see in 3D too and the audiences agree - thus far 66% have chosen 3D for their tickets.

Relativity Media is looking at $33 - 38 million for the weekend, which is gangbusters and records are being broken for the company. In fact their projections were no where near these figures. Champagne glasses are clinking at Relativity. Congratulations! And to Tarsem Singh - BRAVO.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

A good friend of mine, Kevin who lives on the island nation and is a visual effects artist in the industry (yes 3D movies!) sent me this rather cool story about their major new development, the Wellywood sign.

Made to pay homage to the Hollywood sign obviously, the project has had quite a bit of controversy in Kiwi and this special report covers all of that AND MORE...

And here we go! Part 2 of the family oriented popcorn JOURNEY franchise begins its marketing quest to bring in viewers. As far as trailers go, I like them to first introduce characters effectively and then throw them into turmoil. I don't think this trailer succeeds, but more on that later.

Here's the storyline:The new journey begins when young adventurer Sean (Josh Hutcherson) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist--a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean's new stepfather (Dwayne Johnson) joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

There is simply too much turmoil in this trailer right from the get-go. I want to know these characters more to be attached to it. How do they explain the lack of Brendan Frasier? How did The Rock get involved? Too many questions.

I was waiting for the real reason why Dwayne Johnson was in this movie (I wasn't quite buying that he was some sort of expert in saying that the island was going to blow) and it wasn't really provided until the end of the trailer. Bouncing a berry off of his chest is pure gold. Pure gold Jerry!

Wow! This is an amazing clip. Obviously CG plays a key role here! But it is remarkably believable despite the level of gore and blood. Well done Tarsem Singh!

If this is only the tip of the iceberg here, then we have a sure fire hit on ours hands and will witness the emergence of what could be one of the greatest directors ever. His visuals are THAT good. It's rare to have an opportunity like this occur really. Singh finally has a budget and HOPEFULLY a great story too.

We'll see. In the meantime, enjoy watching this clip OVER and OVER again like I have! :-)

Add in the Panasonic iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, MEGA O.I.S, AF Tracking, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Recognition and Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Handheld Nightshot and you have a great little camera full of today's tech. Don't forget the 3.5″ Smart Touch screen at the back - Not sure if you can use the touch function for auto-focusing on a subject like the Lumix GH2, but I sure hope so.

I am still the proud owner of a Panasonic GH1 camera (that I promptly hacked) that records AMAZING video at 1080p 24fps at 50 to 100mbps. I will be upgrading soon to the GH2 as that is now hackable too.

Monday, November 07, 2011

Ok, this is now a bit clearer. To those of you who are a tad weary about spoilers - this is sort of a mini-spoiler, but if you have been following the PROMETHEUS story for awhile now you already know what's going on to a large extent. That being said, the next paragraph contains some official mini-spoilers.

The Wall Street Journal spoke with Ridley Scott about PROMETHEUS and here is what Scott had to say: The last eight minutes of the “Prometheus” story evolve into “a pretty good DNA of the ‘Alien’ one.”

We kinda knew that already EXCEPT for when the story takes a turn toward ALIEN.

As the title also hinted, the storyline will center on a "higher being" who challenges the gods for fire. "Fire is our first form of technology," Scott says, and so by taking fire, the higher being is punished "in perpetuity in a horrible fashion."

And no, Sigourney Weaver does not make an appearance in the film!

Scott on 3D and CGI: He has "completely taken off into this cyberworld" and called working on PROMETHEUS "the best time I’ve had in a number of years making a movie." That being said, he continued: "I’m a great believer in filming the real thing if you can and so I did a lot of building the real thing."

Between this movie, THE HOBBITs, AVATAR 2 & 3, TINTIN. HUGO and the re-release of STAR WARS and TITANIC I am basically beside myself in anticipation. I love 3D movies of course, but these movies set bars higher - you know what I mean?

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Rounding up the weekend we have some storylines for you. First up we have TARZAN 3D (also with a promo poster that essentially just shows you the font being used for the psoduction) which will be a 3D animation of the classic tale.

Reinhard Klooss (ANIMALS UNITED) is directing and also co-wrote along with Jessica Postigo.

Here's the storyline for TARZAN 3D:While in a remote part of Africa exploring a mineral cache in a mysterious cave, entrepreneur JOHN GREYSTOKE and his wife ALICE are killed in a tragic helicopter crash, leaving their three-year-old JOHN, JR. to fend for himself. Rescued by KALA, a gentle ape, the traumatized child is brought up by a band of mountain gorillas as one of their own, learning the ways of the wild as he grows into a strong and indepdendent young man known as TARZAN. At 14, Tarzan first encounters another human: JANE PORTER, a pretty and intrepid teen visiting Africa with her naturalist father. His contact with a creature so like himself leaves him unsettled and yearning for more.

The gorilla tribe’s longtime leader dies and is succeeded by a brutal silverback named TUBLAT, who settles an old score by driving Tarzan out of the group. As Tarzan wanders alone, he stumbles on the wreckage of the helicopter, where he unknowingly triggers a signal to his late father’s company. CLAYTON, a ruthlessly ambitious executive at Greystoke Industries, hires Jane and her father with a greedy scheme that will destroy the entire ecosystem. Jane, hoping to derail the plan, reconnects with Tarzan and becomes a target for both Clayton and Tublat. Facing deadly challenges from man and beast, Tarzan must use his jingle intuition and his human intellect to save his home and the woman he loves.

A spectacular animated safari into a vibrant and exotic landscape, TARZAN 3D is a gorgeously rendered, action-packed journey through a magnificently imagined world.

And we have the storyline for THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES. This is a movie adaption of the popular teen novel series that will headline Lily Collins (ABDUCTION; THE BLIND SIDE; MIRROR, MIRROR) as an ordinary teenager until she discovers that she must gain control over her newly found Shadowhunter powers to save her mother from peril.

Here's the storyline for THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES:Clary Fray (Lily Collins) is an ordinary Brooklyn teenager until the night she meets the mysteriously tattooed JACE, who turns out to be a half-angel warrior known as a Shadowhunter. When Clary finds out her mother JOCELYN has been abducted, she desperately hopes Jace will be able to help. After a whirling golden portal transports her across time and space in a heartbeat, Clary realizes she too has the powers of the Shadowhunters. But can she harness them in time to save her mother?

Clary, Jace and their fellow Shadowhunters endure one breathtaking battle after another against vampire, warlocks and demons—only to discover Jocelyn hid a terrible secret from the fiercest warrior of all: VALENTINE. Cast out from the world of Shadowhunters, Valentine abducted Jocelyn believing she had a powerful tool known as the Mortal Cup. Using her newfound gifts, Clary finds the Cup, only to be brutally betrayed and forced to relinquish it.

Still reeling from this setback and racing to save Jocelyn before it’s too late, Clary finds herself caught in a battle between forces she barely understands. Based on the best-selling series by Cassandra Clare, THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES is a magnificent urban fantasy rich in detail and suspense, about a girl’s journey to the darkest corners of the underworld to save those she loves.